Retarded circuit breaker



Filed April 22. 1929 Inventor A Hungry Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES" CAREY I. SWEENY, OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS I anrmnnnn cmcurr BREAKER Application filed April 22,

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in circuit makers and breakers and more particularly to a novel retarded circuit breaker. The present invention is especially adapted for use in electric light circuits so that when a lamp circuit in a given room is to be opened, this novel switch may be actuated with the result that the lamp will not be immediately extinguished, but will give the party operating the switch suflicient time to leave the room, without moving in the darkness.

The principal object of the invention is considering the invention as described and claimed hereinafter.

The single view in the drawing'discloses a vertical sectional view through the switch casing and showing the elements'in circuit opened position.

Referring to the drawing wherein'like reference characters designate like parts, a casing 3 is open at one side and provided with a cover p ate 4 having an opening 5 in its lower portion. The casing 3 is of suitable di-electric material and has a bushing 6 dissed within an openin in its back wall. -Within the casing 3 is located a air of stationary contacts 7 -7 for interruptin the commercial current supply line 8. A ever 9 is provided for operating the movable switch element 10 and this foregoingswitch mechanism may be regarded as a conventional structure as the following is the gist of the invention.

Located within the lower portion of the casing 3 is a slide rod 11, disposed through a pair of guides 12. The rod 11 is equi ped with a push button 13 at one end for slidable disposition through the opening 5 in the cover 4. A strap 14 of suitable thermo-responsive material has one end portaneou pushin 1929. Serial No. 357,062.

tion 15 bent upwardly and secured to the cover 4 by a suitable means 16. A spacer 17 of suitable di-electric material separates the thermo element from the metallic cover 4. The contact 18 is provided on the free end a of the element. An arm 19 extends from a side wall and also has a contact 20 thereon.

A follower plate 21 has a shank 22 slidably disposed in the bushing 6, while a spring 23 is interposed between the plate 21 a. and the bushing 6 to normally urge the follower to the position shown in the drawing.

A jumper 24 connects one of the stationary contacts 7 to the thermo-element 14, while the other stationary contact 7 is connected 66 to the arm 19.

It will thus be seen that when the lever 9 is moved so that the circuit through the conventional switch is opened, the simulin of the rod llwill dis- 70 engage the bra e 21 from the element 14 so that the element will clamp inwardly and contact with the arm 19 thus maintaining the circuit closed. However, the heat of the current passing through the thermo responll sive element will cause the same to expand and become spaced from the arm 19, the follower 21 then engaging the end portion thereof so as to maintain the same spaced from the arm 19 and the lamp circuit broken so until the switch rod 11 is again engaged against the follower plate 21. While the foregoing specification has been in definite terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the specific shape, size and materials may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is;

1. A circuit maker and breaker compris ing a thermostatic element, a contact on said element, a manually reciprocatory rod,

a follower, a stationary contact, said contacts being normally engaged, said follower 9| being adapted to engage said thermostatic element to retain the latter spaced from the stationary contact.

2. A circuit maker and breaker compris- I ing a thermostatic element, a contact on said ama? 

